Calibrachoa plant named ‘Balchafrem’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Balchafrem’, characterized by its white and bright yellow colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Calibrachoa x hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balchafrem’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant botanically known as Calibrachoa x hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balchafrem’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Arroyo Grande, Calif. during October 2017. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Calibrachoa cultivars with attractive novelty flower coloration, and a vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit.

The new Calibrachoa cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the proprietary Calibrachoa x hybrida breeding selection coded CAL-15139-02, not patented, characterized by its light yellow-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Calibrachoa x hybrida breeding selection coded CAL-15055-02, not patented, characterized by its medium yellow-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, low vigor, and semi-upright growth habit. The new cultivar was selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during February 2018 in a controlled environment in Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since February 2018 in Arroyo Grande, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balchafrem’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. White and bright yellow colored flowers; and     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female and male parents primarily in having a different flower color, and increased growth vigor.

Of the many commercially available Calibrachoa cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is CABARET Bright White ‘Balcabriw’, not patented. However, in side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balcabriw’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have petal bases with more yellow         coloration than plants of ‘Balcabriw’;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have fewer flowers per plant than         plants of ‘Balcabriw’; and     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have greater growth vigor than         plants of ‘Balcabriw’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balchafrem’. The approximately 3-month-old plants were grown in 4.5-inch pots for 7 weeks in a greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch two weeks before transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balchafrem’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of ‘Balchafrem’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in December 2019 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately 3-month-old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 4.5-inch pots for 7 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were given one pinch two weeks before transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 67° F. to 72° F. (19° C. to 22° C.) during the day and approximately 64° F. to 66° F. (18° C. to 19° C.) during the night. Supplemental lighting was used. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa x hybrida ‘Balchafrem’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Calibrachoa x hybrida breeding             selection coded CAL-15139-02, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary Calibrachoa x hybrida breeding             selection coded CAL-15055-02, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 8 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 6 to 9 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Vigorous,             mounded-trailing.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 16.5 cm. Width: Approximately 39.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances basal             branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:             Approximately 7.         -   Branch.—Strength: Moderate. Length: Approximately 18.0 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Length of central internode:             Approximately 1.5 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color of             young stems: 146D. Color of mature stems: 146C. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Fragrance: None detected. Form: Simple.             Arrangement on flowering stem: Opposite.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: At acute angle to stem with tip turning             downward. Shape: Elliptic. Margin: Entire. Apex: Broadly             acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of             mature leaf: Approximately 4.0 cm. Width of mature leaf:             Approximately 1.4 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Moderately glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless,             transparent. Color of upper surface of young and mature             foliage: 137A with midvein of 146C. Color of lower surface             of young and mature foliage: Closest to 138B with midvein of             146D.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Diameter:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Moderately glandular             pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color: 146D. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balchafrem’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately             5 to 7 days. -   Flower description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Single, salverform. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 36. Fragrance: None detected.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 22.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblong. Length:             Approximately 2.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm.             Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color: Petal portion 145D, tube             portion 154C, venation of N144A.         -   Corolla.—Diameter: Approximately 3.5 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, fused to form a tube. Shape: Obovate.             Margin: Entire. Apex: Obtuse, occasionally shallowly             notched. Length from tube: Approximately 1.5 cm. Length of             free portion: Approximately 5.0 mm. Width: Approximately             1.8 cm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower             surface: Glandular pubescent, dense along venation. Gland             color: Colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface when             first and fully open: NN155D with base of 7B to 7C most             prominent on lower petals, midveins of 144A. Color of lower             surface when first and fully open: NN155D with midveins of             N144A.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 1.8 cm. Diameter at             distal end: Approximately 5.0 mm. Diameter at proximal end:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous.             Texture of outer surface: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland             color: Colorless, transparent. Color of inner surface: 150D             transitioning to 7B at throat opening, venation of 144A.             Color of outer surface: 154C, venation of N144A.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused along lower third.             Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Length: Approximately             1.3 cm. Width: Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture of upper and             lower surfaces: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface: 137B. Color             of lower surface: 138A with base of 144B.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Acute angle to             stem. Length: Approximately 2.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately             1.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color: 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5,             basifixed. Stamen length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Filament             length of fixed portion: Approximately 5.0 mm. Filament             color: 150D. Anther shape: Bilobed, ovoid. Anther length:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Anther color: 8A. Pollen amount:             Abundant. Pollen color: 8C. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1             per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Stigma             shape: Funnel. Stigma length: Less than 1.0 mm. Stigma             color: 145A. Style length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Style             color: 145D. Ovary diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Ovary             color: 144A. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Calibrachoa has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘Balchafrem’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 